Personal Development

In my 50 years of practice, I’ve seen many a professional movement come and go. The argument that’s currently causing a stir in chiropractic circles is the question of “vitalism” versus “mechanism.” This debate has also been referred to as the “straights” versus the “mixers,” but it is basically the same quarrel. You can be sure that as your career progresses, you will hear these ideas pop up again and again, but with new and trendier names.

Congratulations, doctor. You have passed your boards, opened your office, and are finally fulfilling your passion to help the public stay healthier through chiropractic care. But first, a word of warning: Passion can become its own entrapment. It helps if we listen to our family or close friends. Often, they will let us know when we need to be protected from our own wrong choices.

Spending time in self-reflection is an essential part of understanding your role in the lives of others. What often distinguishes busy, thriving chiropractors from those who are merely surviving is that successful chiropractors tend to ask better questions. When these chiropractors do spend time in self-reflection, they get better answers. And having solid answers to the following five questions can bring clarity, focus and a sense of peace

Did you have a mentor at the beginning of your professional chiropractic career? If you did, it’s highly likely that you are grateful for the guidance and support that your mentor provided and you still keep in touch. Having a strong chiropractic mentor goes beyond meeting every once in a while for coffee. In an ever-evolving health care environment, a mentor can help you navigate the field and better understand how to help out individuals from all walks of life.

If you’re nearing graduation, it may seem daunting to think about treating patients on your own. This will be especially true if you’re building your own practice from the ground up, but it’s also true if you’re joining a practice with a group of other doctors. Either way, you’ll need to begin with good business habits that will help you build your patient base from day one. To really build your business and get better clinical outcomes, it can make a big difference to incorporate nutrition into your practice right from the start.

When new patients call for an appointment, that phone call is their first impression of your practice, so it should be welcoming and professional. And just as important is their first visual impression of your office. Does your office reflect prestige and respect, or present a cold atmosphere and a lack of confidence? If the patient’s first impressions are good ones, that can lead to more informative doctor- patient interactions.